“Now I’m having cycling lessons, and I’ve got my freedom back. I much prefer it. I want to learn English and Spanish, and I’ve been able to go to the beach and swim without being afraid of getting my hair wet.”

It was an emotional moment for the rest of Natasha’s family too. Her mother Catarina said: “I never put her under pressure to get it cut, but she was like a prisoner and wanted to do the things other girls her age do.

“It has given me back some freedom as I used to spend so much time looking after her hair.”

The family is also now able to switch the fan on in the house, something previously impossible as Natasha’s 5ft2in hair would get caught in it.

Natasha had not cut her hair since she was a baby, and was frequently complimented on her mane of thick, chestnut tresses.

Now it is as long as it was when she was just four-years-old.

She may have short hair now but Natasha’s old fame as Rapunzel continues at school where everyone still uses the nickname.

“I thought it would stop when I had it cut, but people still stop me in the street. If I had a daughter of my own, she would also be a princess, but she would be Snow White, not Rapunzel. That would be much more practical,” she said